Progress

“Change Is The Constant” – Chicago Lakefront

30/30 Challenge – 23/30

23.

90 BUCKS FOR MY YOUTH

One day I’ll be rich
Or at least
Richer than this
And I’ll think on nights like tonight
When opening a check for
Ninety dollars
The joy sprung up
Relief
Ninety dollars
For my art no less
And really eighty
If you count the cupcakes
I clawed the walls of the elevator
And yelled “thank god,”
After working a thirteen hour day
Walking into my studio apartment
Needing a new bed
Or just a real bed, in fact
One day I’ll be rich
And I’ll think on lives like this
And I’ll remember how happy I was.

Ⓒ Eileen Tull 2015

30/30 Challenge – 13/30

13.

WHIRL

I won’t get ahead of myself
Especially if you follow
But I’m spinning
Whirling like a dervish
I used to knock more people over
But I found a meadow all my own
Spinning free and wild
Tall tickle grass
Never scythed down
Can’t be, won’t
Free for me to spiral through
I left a trail
You’re welcome here
I’ve shown you the way
Rotate in space
Careening through the wind
The air
Sifting through particles, atoms, breaking apart the matter
Like a top
Breaking through the silent air
Come and let’s make revolutions
Around and around and around and around
You’re welcome here.

Ⓒ Eileen Tull 2015

30/30 Challenge – 12/30

12.

TO L, FROM E; WE’VE NEVER MET

And so goodbye,
I never knew you.
There wasn’t time
There’s never that
But you had less
And I had more
Somehow that’s fair
I’m still not sure.
They’ll throw you flowers
Call you a fighter
Claim your inspiration
They’ll hug their children tighter
For the night, grateful
To be so unlike you
And they’ll forget your name.

Ⓒ Eileen Tull 2015

30/30 Challenge – 9/30

9.

Resounding

I haven’t spoken to a human
In about a hundred years
But it doesn’t matter
Because I’m recording this poem
With my voice
Into a machine
So it lives forever.
Ears hold little
Little more than air
And my poem could sift through
The aerated holes
Accentuating flesh
On the meat skeleton
Of a passerby.
Best to speak it into the metallic hub
Cogs and wires and screws and parts
Kept safe
And my poem will live forever.

Ⓒ Eileen Tull 2015

SUCK IT, HEMINGWAY

For sale: Skinny jeans, never worn.

(c) Eileen Tull 2014

Pulitzer Prize, plz

Play #20 – PERFORMANCE FART

PERFORMANCE FART

Lights up: A MAN writhes on the ground in pain. He screams. A WOMAN enters, walking by, at first ignoring the man.

MAN
Help me! Help! Help me, please!

The Woman turns back to him. She approaches tentatively.

WOMAN
Are you alright?

MAN
I think I’m dying! Help!

WOMAN
How are you dying?

MAN
All over! I have pain all over!

WOMAN
Okay, let me call an ambulance.

She takes out her phone and dials.

WOMAN
Hello, 911 –

The man springs up.

WOMAN
Oh my god –

MAN
See! I’m fine! I’m not a sick, dying man! I’m a performance artist! This was performance art, you fucking idiot! You thought I was dying, but I was showing you performance art! I was showing you how uncaring and stupid society is!

He punches the woman in the face and runs off, laughing.

WOMAN
Ow! Oh my god! (into the phone) I’m not sure what the fuck just happened to me. I think I’m enlightened or something?

ANOTHER MAN enters.

ANOTHER MAN
Are you alright, miss?

WOMAN
Get the fuck away from me!

She runs offstage. Blackout.

© Eileen Tull

Play #18 – THIS HAPPENED TODAY

THIS HAPPENED TODAY

Lights up. A bus. EILEEN sits facing the front of the bus. THE GIRL sits directly behind Eileen, facing the opposite direction. They ride. A MAN approaches the Girl and sits next to her.

A MAN
How are you today?

THE GIRL
I’m fine.

A MAN
That’s good. Do you live around here?

THE GIRL
I live in a neighborhood.

A MAN
Oh that’s good. Me too.

Silence. Eileen starts paying attention to their conversation.

A MAN
Do you jog?

THE GIRL
What?

A MAN
Do you jog or run? Are you a runner?

THE GIRL
Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes I guess.

A MAN
I ask because you look like you keep your body in good shape.

THE GIRL
Okay.

Eileen is uncomfortable, but at a loss as to what to do.

A MAN
What are you up to today? Out to the beach?

THE GIRL
No, I’m going to work.

A MAN
Ah, you work. Do you work in the hotel business?

THE GIRL
No.

A MAN
Where do you work?

THE GIRL
A salon.

A MAN
A hair salon?

THE GIRL
Yes.

A MAN
That’s a good business to be in. Women are always trying to look beautiful. (He laughs) You’re very beautiful.

THE GIRL
Thank you.

A MAN
My name’s Bernie. (Silence) What’s your name?

THE GIRL
Don’t worry about it.

A MAN
Can I take you to dinner sometime?

THE GIRL
No.

ANOTHER WOMAN enters from the front of the bus. She taps the Girl on the shoulder.

ANOTHER WOMAN
Do you know him?

THE GIRL
No.

ANOTHER WOMAN
Are you okay?

THE GIRL
Yeah.

ANOTHER WOMAN
Sure?

THE GIRL
Yeah.

Another Woman makes eye contact at Eileen.

ANOTHER WOMAN
I saw him eyeballin’ her ass when she got on and then he follows her back here to sit next to her. No, sir.

A man turns to look at her.

ANOTHER WOMAN
Yeah, I’m talking about you. I saw you looking at her. I have four granddaughters. I see you.

A MAN
Why don’t you mind your own business?

ANOTHER WOMAN
Don’t worry, I got your picture. I took your picture.

Another Woman and The Girl start to exit.

EILEEN
Thank you for saying something. (to the Girl) I’m sorry. Are you okay?

The Girl shrugs. The two women exit. Eileen rides the bus, back to back with A Man. They ride the bus.

Blackout.

© Eileen Tull

Play #11 – I WANT YOU, KINDA, SORTA

So…….I submitted this one but I’m not quite ready to publish it. Because it’s hella personal. Someday maybe.

31 Plays in 31 Days

Let’s do this.